G7 leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his intention to end the war through diplomacy in 2025.
Speaking in a radio interview, Zelenskyy highlighted plans to prioritize peace talks next year and noted that Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president could accelerate the war’s conclusion. Trump has advocated for an immediate end to the conflict and hinted at allowing Russia to retain captured Ukrainian territories, though Zelenskyy stated no contradictions arose in his recent conversation with Trump.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin insists on Kyiv surrendering occupied regions and addressing NATO expansion as preconditions for any peace agreement. Putin communicated this stance to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in their first discussion in two years.
As the G7 marks the approaching 1,000th day of Russia’s war, it emphasized imposing strict sanctions and export controls on Moscow, blaming Russia as the key barrier to peace. The group, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, reiterated its resolve to assist Kyiv with arms and financial aid. Ukraine is intensifying its efforts to secure Western backing before Trump’s inauguration in January, while outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged continued support.
On the battlefield, Russian forces are advancing rapidly in eastern Ukraine, targeting Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, key logistical hubs. Additionally, North Korea has reportedly deployed thousands of troops to Russia’s Kursk region to repel Ukrainian incursions. Russia’s defense ministry reported downing 15 drones and several other aerial threats in Kursk and other areas.
